Garth Brooks’ Dublin Dates Create Community Uproar

A nearly five-year-old agreement to host no more than three yearly concerts at Croke Park in Dublin is at the center of a debate over the five Garth Brooks shows scheduled for July. Residents living near the stadium are upset that a written agreement is being ignored. And there’s indication they plan to take their protest further.

According to the Irish Times, a meeting between residents and the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) turned ugly this week. The five Brooks shows were sold before a license was granted, but promoters have 10 weeks to turn in that application. The Evening Herald reports residents have five weeks after that to protest.

The stadium’s director reportedly told the room of residents that “times move on.” This created an uproar and furthered distrust between the two sides. Nine events are scheduled for 2014, including Brooks’ five shows and several One Direction concerts.

The stadium’s management will need to apply for a public event license. All five of Brooks' shows have sold out, and tourists are expected to fly in from all over the world for the dates. A sixth date is not expected to be added.